Ceramic Bowl, Donja Dolina, Late Iron Age
Silver Earring, Donja Dolina, Late Iron Age
Clay Toys, Donja Dolina, Early and Late Iron Age
Permanent Exhibition - Metal Ages
The Metal Ages Section of the archaeological permanent exhibition features findings from several excavated sites in the Bosanska Krajina region, as well as chance finds from the vicinity of Banja Luka. These artifacts date from the late 4th millennium to the end of the last millennium BCE and encompass the Copper Age (3300-2000/1800 BCE), the Bronze Age (2000/1800-1000/800 BCE), and the Iron Age (1000/800 BCE - the beginning of the Common Era).
- Curator
Fragments of Ceramic Vessels, Polishing Stone and Flint Tool, Kastel, Copper Age Copper Age (Eneolithic)
The Copper Age (Eneolithic) in the northwestern Bosnia region lasted during the late 4th and much of the 3rd millennium BCE. This period is marked by the abandonment of Neolithic traditions and the beginning of metallurgy. It is represented by rare finds, primarily ceramic vessels and, to a lesser extent, flint tools, discovered at the sites of Kastel in Banja Luka, Pećine in Klašnice, as well as Zemunica, Plavljani, and Ober in Radosavska. These sites have been identified as settlements from the late phases of the Vučedol and Lasinja cultures. In addition, significant finds from this period come from the flat-grave necropolis of Petkovo Brdo, also in Radosavska.
Bronze kidney pommel sword, Stražbenica Fortress, near the mouth of the Bijeli Potok in the Vrbanja River, Late Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age, which lasted throughout the second millennium BCE, was marked by a rapid development of metallurgy, craftsmanship, and trade, facilitated by the proximity of ore-rich regions. Due to the insufficient exploration of Early and Middle Bronze Age sites, isolated finds remain the only reliable indicators of the initial phases of Bronze Age migrations, which gradually displaced the Copper Age civilization in this area. Consequently, the Early and Middle Bronze Ages are represented solely by individual chance finds, such as a bronze dagger from Martin Brod on the Una River and an axe from Barlovci. Finds from the Late Bronze Age are more numerous and can be categorized into two groups. The first consists of chance finds, including a hoard of bronze jewelry from Medeno Polje, a hoard of bronze weapons from the Rmanj Monastery (a spear), and a bronze sword from the fortification of Stražbenica. The second group comprises artifacts discovered through systematic archaeological excavations, notably bronze jewelry from Mahovljani (bracelets, decorative pins, pendants). The intensive exploitation of bronze ore is attributed to newly arrived Central European populations, bearers of the Urnfield culture, who established numerous hillfort settlements in northwestern Bosnia, stimulating the development of the region’s indigenous culture. It is believed that this Central European culture, spreading across the Sava River, reached northern Bosnia during the Late Bronze Age, as confirmed by archaeological material from systematically excavated sites, primarily settlements in the regions of Gradiška and Banja Luka (Donja Dolina, Brdašce/Laktaši, Čitluk, Radosavska Piskavica, Karanovac).
Bronze Jewelry, Bila, Kumsale, Blatnica, Klašnice, Early Iron Age
Iron Age
The development of the Iron Age throughout almost the entire last millennium BCE in the northwestern Bosnia region, inhabited by the Pannonians, is evident through archaeologically excavated sites, notably the diverse materials from the complex settlement of Donja Dolina. Additional significant archaeological findings are present in other settlements, some with continuity from the previous period (Brdašce/Laktaši, Čitluk, Karanovac), and others newly established (Sanski Most). During the earlier phase of the Iron Age (Hallstatt), these settlements were part of the Donja Dolina-Sanski Most cultural group, located along the Posavina region between the confluences of the Una and Vrbas rivers. In the later Iron Age (La Tène), areas like Bosnian Posavina (Donja Dolina, Sanski Most) and Pounje (Jazerine, Ribić) experienced strong influences from Celtic culture, akin to regions like Slavonian Posavina and the Pannonian Danube. This influence is evident in the variety of La Tène fibulae forms and in pottery-making and decoration techniques. However, archaeological evidence does not support a Celtic conquest south of the Sava River. The continuous development of the Japodian culture in Pounje until the end of the pre-Roman era, without significant changes during the Celtic invasions, attest to this. Artifacts such as distinctive Japodian jewelry and costume elements - crafted from bronze, iron, glass, and amber - highlight well-established trade networks extending beyond neighboring regions to distant areas like the Baltic.onze, željeza, stakla i ćilibara, dokaz su razvijene trgovine, ne samo sa susjednim područjima, već i sa udaljenim regijama, poput Baltika.